PHIL Scholes has gone straight to the top of the class with a winning performance on the Spring Stages.

Scholes, who is contesting this year’s Peugeot 205 Challenge, won the 1600cc class and finished ninth overall on the Norfolk-based opener.

“It was the perfect way to start the season, we couldn’t have hoped for a better result,” said his dad, Rob.

“Phil had a very difficult year in 2009, with car problems preventing him from getting the results he should have done.

“So it felt great celebrating at the end of a rally instead of commiserating.”

But Scholes, who had Andy Murphy in the co-drivers seat, didn’t have an easy time on the two-day event.

Based at the ex-US Air Force airfield at Sculthorpe, the rally comprised of 10 fast and flowing stages, each between 8-10 miles long.

With 10 starters in his 1600cc class, Scholes was locked in a battle with fellow front-runners Jamie Anderson and Marcus Feeley.

With just seconds separating the trio, the top spot was only resolved on the final, monster 12-mile stage.

The result now means the 21-year-old from Blackburn is the early leader of the 1600cc class. Round two is the Plains Rally in mid-Wales, on May 15.

l Phil Scholes would like to thank FX Pools, Charlie and Andy Potts from FX Motorsport, Michael Strange, Charlie Woodward, RVL Services, Tony Tyres South Shore, Competition Wiring Looms and Hankook Tyres.